Belmullet Residential Development Ecological Impact Assessment Prepared By: Moore Group - Environmental Services On behalf of: Mayo County Council Job Number 21109 April 2021 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 Project Proponent Mayo County Council Project Belmullet Residential Development Belmullet Residential Development Title Ecological Impact Assessment Project Number 21109 Document Reference 21109 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA Rev1 Revision Description Author Date G. O’Donohoe Rev0 Issued for Client Review 19 April 2021 G. O’Donohoe Rev1 Minor Edits 26 April 2021 Moore Archaeological and Environmental Services Limited Moore Group ([email protected]) Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 3 2. METHODOLOGY 5 2.1. POLICY & LEGISLATION 5 2.1.1. EU HABITATS DIRECTIVE 5 2.1.2. EU BIRDS DIRECTIVE 5 2.1.3. WILDLIFE ACTS 1976 - 2012 5 2.2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY 5 2.2.1. DESK STUDY 5 2.2.2. FIELD STUDY 6 2.2.3. SITE EVALUATION AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 7 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 8 4. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 11 4.1. DESIGNATED CONSERVATION AREAS 11 4.2. HABITAT DESCRIPTIONS 15 4.2.1. HABITATS & FLORA 15 4.2.2. INVASIVE SPECIES 16 4.3. FLORA 16 4.3.1. MAMMALS 16 4.3.2. BIRDS 16 5. ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS 17 5.1. SITE EVALUATION 17 5.2. IMPACT ASSESSMENT 17 5.2.1. DIRECT IMPACTS 17 5.2.2. INDIRECT IMPACTS 18 5.2.3. INVASIVE SPECIES 18 5.2.4. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 18 6. CONCLUSIONS 20 7. REFERENCES 20 Appendix 1 TII Evaluation of Habitats Appendix 2 Site Photos Moore Group ([email protected]) 2 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 1. INTRODUCTION Moore Group was commissioned by DMC Design on behalf of Mayo County Council to undertake a Habitat Survey and EcIA of the site of a proposed new residential development in Belmullet, Co. Mayo. The report provides information on ecological features if present within the study areas, of particular significance, primarily designated habitats and species, including habitats/species listed in Annex I, II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, rare flora listed in the Flora Protection Order along with other semi- natural habitats of conservational value. The report has been compiled in compliance with the European Communities Legal requirements and follows EPA Draft Guidelines on Information to be contained in an EIAR (EPA, 2017) and on CIIEM and NRA Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment outlined in Section 2. The report provides information on ecological features if present within the study areas, of particular significance, primarily designated habitats and species, including habitats/species listed in Annex I, II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, rare flora listed in the Flora Protection Order along with other semi- natural habitats of conservational value. The following important ecological receptors were considered in planning and designing the project, and in assessing its likely ecological effects: Sites with nature conservation designations, including proposed NHAs, the reasons for their designation, and their conservation objectives, where available; Annex IV (Habitats Directive) species of fauna and flora, and their breeding sites and resting places, which are strictly protected under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations, 2011; Other species of fauna and flora which are protected under the Wildlife Acts, 1976-2012; ‘Protected species and natural habitats’, as defined in the Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/EC) and European Communities (Environmental Liability) Regulations, 2008, including: o Birds Directive – Annex I species and other regularly occurring migratory species, and their habitats (wherever they occur); o Habitats Directive – Annex I habitats, Annex II species and their habitats, and Annex IV species and their breeding sites and resting places (wherever they occur); Other habitats of ecological value in a national to local context, including rocky habitats in the general area; Stepping stones and ecological corridors encapsulated by Article 10 of the Habitats Directive. Moore Group – Archaeological, Architectural, Ecological Consultants 3 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 The report has been compiled in compliance with the European Communities Legal requirements and follows EPA Draft Guidelines on Information to be contained in an EIAR (EPA, 2017) and on Transport Infrastructure Ireland TII policy and guidance outlined in Section 2. The report was compiled by Ger O’Donohoe M.Sc. Ger is the principal ecologist with Moore Group and has over 25 years’ experience in ecological impact assessment. He graduated from GMIT in 1993 with a B.Sc. in Applied Freshwater & Marine Biology and subsequently worked in environmental consultancy while completing an M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, graduating from Trinity College, Dublin in 1999. He has over 15 years’ experience of carrying out bat surveys and has completed the Bat Conservation Ireland, Bat Detector Workshop which is the standard training for the carrying out of bat surveys in Ireland and follows the Bat Conservation Ireland ‘Bat Survey Guidelines’ (Aughney et al., 2008). The European Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (Article 6) indicates the need for plans and projects to be subject to Habitats Directive Assessment (also known as Appropriate Assessment) if the plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a Natura 2000 site (which includes SACs and SPAs) but which has the potential to have implications on a site’s conservation objectives. These implications can be significant effects either individually or in combination with other plans or projects. The Appropriate Assessment process is addressed in a Report for AA Screening which is presented as part of the planning application. The site location is presented in Figure 1 below. Figure 1. Showing the site location (©OSM). Moore Group ([email protected]) 4 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1. POLICY & LEGISLATION 2.1.1. EU Habitats Directive The “Habitats Directive” (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna) is the main legislative instrument for the protection and conservation of biodiversity within the European Union and lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within wildlife conservation areas, considered to be important at a European as well as at a national level. A “Special Area of Conservation” or SAC is a designation under the Habitats Directive. The Habitats Directive sets out the protocol for the protection and management of SACs. 2.1.2. EU Birds Directive The “Birds Directive” (Council Directive 79/409/EEC and Council Directive 2009/147/EC on the Conservation of Wild Birds) provides for a network of sites in all member states to protect birds at their breeding, feeding, roosting and wintering areas. This directive identifies species that are rare, in danger of extinction or vulnerable to changes in habitat and which need protection (Annex I species). Appendix I indicates Annex I bird species as listed on the Birds Directive. A “Special Protection Area” or SPA, is a designation under The Birds Directive. 2.1.3. Wildlife Acts 1976 - 2012 The primary domestic legislation providing for the protection of wildlife in general, and the control of some activities adversely impacting upon wildlife is the Wildlife Act of 1976. The aims of the wildlife act according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service are “... to provide for the protection and conservation of wild fauna and flora, to conserve a representative sample of important ecosystems, to provide for the development and protection of game resources and to regulate their exploitation, and to provide the services necessary to accomplish such aims.” All bird species are protected under the act. The Wildlife (Amendment) Act of 2000 amended the original Act to improve the effectiveness of the Act to achieve its aims. 2.2. SURVEY METHODOLOGY 2.2.1. Desk Study The assessment was carried out in three stages, firstly through desktop assessment to determine existing records in relation to habitats and species present in the study areas. This included research on the NPWS metadata website, the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) database and a literature review of published information on flora and fauna occurring in the development area. Moore Group ([email protected]) 5 Belmullet Res Dev EcIA 21109 Sources of information that were used to collect data on the Natura 2000 network of sites, and the environment within which they are located, are listed below: The following mapping and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) data sources, as required: o National Parks & Wildlife (NPWS) protected site boundary data; o Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) mapping and aerial photography; o OSI/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rivers and streams, and catchments; o Open Street Maps; o Digital Elevation Model over Europe (EU-DEM); o Google Earth and Bing aerial photography 1995-2021; Online data available on Natura 2000 sites as held by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) from www.npws.ie including: o Natura 2000 - Standard Data Form; o Conservation Objectives; o Site Synopses; National Biodiversity Data Centre records; o Online database of rare, threatened and protected species; o Publicly accessible biodiversity datasets. Status of EU Protected Habitats in Ireland. (National Parks & Wildlife Service, 2019); and Relevant Development Plans; o Mayo County Development Plan 2017-2023 2.2.2. Field Study The second phase of the assessment involved site visits to establish the existing environment in the footprint of the proposed development area. Areas which were highlighted during desktop assessment were investigated in closer detail according to the Heritage Council Best Practice Guidance for Habitat Survey and Mapping (Smith et al., 2011). Habitats in the proposed development area were classified according to the Heritage Council publication “A Guide to Habitats in Ireland” (Fossitt, 2000). This publication sets out a standard scheme for identifying, describing and classifying wildlife habitats in Ireland. This form of classification uses codes to classify different habitats based on the plant species present.